Folding table



Sept. 17. 1940. PAGE FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 9, 1938 Sept. 17, 1940. p PAGE 7 2,215,131

FOLDING TABLE Filed NOV. 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheer. 2

Patented Sept. 17, 1940 I JNITED Parkhurst Page, Shreyvshury. Mass Application November 9, 1938. Serial-No. 239,700

1,1,1 7 5Claims-..- (01.311 83) f This invention relates to folding tables such as card tables, cocktail tables, and the like, and relates more particularly to tables provided with a separable and relatively thin top member, such as asheet of glass or fibre. 4 V

It is the general object of my invention to provide an improved metallic supporting frame for such a table, soconstructed that the separable if top may be quickly and easily attachedror detached with respectto the supporting frame.

A furtherobject of my invention is to; provide a folding frame by which the separable top will be firmly retained and safely held, whether the table is folded or unfolded. I

I also provide a table supporting frame comprising two continuous and substantially rectangular members, pivoted together in theirside portions and preferablyformed fromtubingor wire rods. I

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of one form of my improved table;

Fig. 2 is a side view, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial end view, similar to Fig; l but showing the supporting frame partly folded;

Fig. 5 shows the same parts in fully folded position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of one of the guide members to which the top member is attached;

Fig. '7 is a partial plan view, looking in the direction of the arrow 1 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing a slight modification;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional elevation showing a further modification; and

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line Ill-40 in Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs. 1 to '7, I have shown a folding table comprising a top member 20, a pair of guide members 2| and a pair of continuous supporting frames 22 and 23. The frames 22 and 23 are preferably formed from metal tubing but may be formed from wire rod if preferred, with the 50 abutting ends welded together or otherwise permanently secured. The frames are substantially rectangular in shape, but are preferably rounded at the corners as indicated at 25.

The'frame 23 is of such size that it will fit 55 between the sides of the frame 22, as shown in Fig. 2, and the two frames are'pivoted together by pins 24, extending through the adjacent side portions of the frames, i

The top member 20 may bea sheet of plate glass or may be a sheet of fibre or composition which is sufficiently stiff and rigid.

' Each guide member 2| (Fig. fircomprises a piece of flat sheet metal, bent to the form shown in said figure and having upwardly projecting and slightly recessed end portions 30. The guide members 2| ale'slightly resilient and are of such normal contour that they must be slightly expanded to hook over the edges of the top member 2i! as shown in Fig. 1 and at the right in Fig. 6. When the guide members 2| are'released after assembly, they contract and firmly grip the edges of the top "member. i l

'A thin plate 32 may be inserted'between each guide member 2| and the top member 2|]. This plate 32 is not rigidly secured to its guide member 2| but rests thereon and is provided with depressed lugs 33 adapted to fit in corresponding depressions 34 (Fig. 7) in the horizontal shoulder portions 35 of the member 2|. The coaction of the lugs 33 and depressions 34 prevents 1ateral displacement of the plates 32.

Loops 36 are provided on the outer frame member 22, which loops loosely encircle the upstanding portions 31 of the guide members 2| and prevent relative displacement of the parts.

It will be noted that each guide member 2| is of substantially greater depth adjacent its upstanding portion 3'|, so as to provide room to receive the top cross bars of the two frame members 22 and 23 when said members are folded to theposition shown in Fig. 5, and to avoid any chance of pinching the fingers between the bars.

The plates 32 receive the wear from the sliding upper cross rods of the frames 22 and 23, and also improve the appearance of the table when a 40 glass or transparent top is used.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 6, except that the guide member 40 has a recessed portion 4| adjacent one end thereof, instead of being gradually increased in depth from one end to the other as in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown a modified construction in which upper guide members and lower guide members 5| are substituted for the one-piece guide members 2| or 40 previously described. The guide members 50 closely underlie the top member 20 throughout their length and are provided with U-shaped depressed portions H1: ii

52 adjacent each end thereof. A plate 53 may be inserted between the upper guide member and the top member 20 if desired, as in the forms previously described.

The lower guide members 5| are preferably formed from wire rods having eyes 55 formed at each end thereof and bent laterally to seat in the depressed portions 52 of the upper guide members 50. The lower guide members 5| must be inserted through the frame members 22 and 23 before assembly with the top members 50 and thereafter form guidebars for the upper portions of the frame members, all as previously explained.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that I have provided a very simple but strong and rigid folding metallic frame structure for supporting a sheet of glass or any other relatively thin and separable top member and for firmly holding said top member, whether the table is folded or unfolded. Furthermore, the top member is quickly and easily removable from the supporting frame structure, so that different top members may be provided for different purposes if so desired.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is;

1. A folding table comprising a separable top member, a folding supporting structure formed of two substantially rectangular and continuous frames pivoted together at their opposite sides, and slightly resilient guide members by which the upper parts of said frames are slidably associated with said top member, said guide members extending through said rectangular frames and yieldingly gripping the edges of said top member by the inherent resilience of said guide members.

2. The combination in a table as set forth in claim 1, in which a thin metal wear plate is interposed between each guide member and the under surface of said top member.

3. The combination in a table as set forth in claim 1, in which a thin metal wear plate is interposed between each guide member and the under surface of said top member, and in which means is provided to detachably retain each wear plate in assembled relation with its associated guide member.

4. A folding table comprising a separable top member, a folding supporting structure formed of two substantially rectangular and continuous frames of equal height and pivoted together at their opposite sides, and guide members loosely connected with the top bar of one of said frames and by which the top bar of the other frame is slidably associated with said top member, said 4 guide members engaging said top member and extending through both supporting frames and being made of bar stock of substantially uniform cross section and being more widely spaced below said top member at one end ofsaid guide members to permit nesting of, the top-bars of the two supporting frames when the table is folded 5. A folding table comprising a separable top member, a folding supporting structure formed of two frames pivoted together and on which the top member is supported, and guide members extending loosely through said two supporting frames and having upstanding recessed end portions provided with shoulders, which engage the under side of the. edges of the top member when assembled therewith, said guide members being slightly resilient throughout their length and said recessed end portions being thereby rendered effective to yieldingly grip the edges of said top member when assembled therewith.

PARKI-IURST PAGE. 

